Posted on 01/18/2013 4:33:31 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
US safety officials earlier joined an investigation into the Dreamliner
Boeing has suspended deliveries of its new 787 Dreamliner aircraft until a battery problem is resolved.
An email from the US aerospace giant said it would continue to build the plane, but not deliver any until US safety officials gave their backing.
The Federal Aviation Administration has joined the Dreamliner investigation.
All 50 of Boeing's 787s have been suspended from flying since an All Nippon Airways flight on Wednesday made an emergency landing due to a fault.
"We will not deliver 787s until the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] approves a means of compliance with their recent Airworthiness Directive concerning batteries and the approved approach has been implemented," said a Boeing spokesman in an email.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said earlier the Dreamliner would not fly again under authorities were "1,000% sure" it is safe.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
“US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said earlier the Dreamliner would not fly again under authorities were “1,000% sure” it is safe.”
Which somehow will require closing down a plant in the carolinas.
Photo of a burnt lithium battery pack used in the 787 from another incident.
To be fair, if this was happening to the latest Airbus jet, many FReepers would be mocking them.
The fact remains that battery fires are not uncommon and are easily resolved with some engineering changes.
Structurally, the 787 is an engineering marvel.
You would have thought that they could have served hot meals instead of cold sandwiches on flights with all those heating devices available.
It is a very complex machine. It is now getting the real-world testing that they can never imitate with test-flights and computer simulations.
Batteries can be easily fixed, as you say.
Hard to deliver any aircraft when the FAA has grounded them all.
This battery issue is going to be solved much more easily and cheaply than Airbus’ problems with early A380 wings.
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